How does the Diablo 4 mercenaries system work? Vessel of Hatred adds mercenaries as a new mechanic, giving you allies that can be called into battle or set as your main companion. They can be unlocked during the main quest in Vessel of Hatred, with each mercenary having unique skills and their own backstory.
Diablo 4‘s expansion adds a bunch of new mechanics and content, from raising the Diablo 4 level cap to changing how difficulty settings work in Diablo 4. We’re also getting mercenaries to aid us in battle, though they will need some convincing first through the rapport system.
Who are the Diablo 4 mercenaries?
There are a total of four mercenaries, hiding out in their secret lair called the Den. You’ll find these mercenaries across Nahantu, but you need to complete different quests in order to earn their trust and call them into battle. If you’re wondering who to recruit, or which mercenary best complements your playstyle, here’s what to expect from each one.
Here are all the Diablo 4 mercenaries:
- Raheir
- Varyana
- Aldkin
- Subo
Raheir – Shieldbearer
This huge warrior uses a shield to cause devastating blows and block incoming attacks, defending you from enemies. He was born on the streets of Gea Kul and was trained by the Iron Wolves.
Varyana – Berserker Crone
A former cannibal, but don’t let that put you off, she left her tribe after they started dealing with darker forces, and though she’s a butcher by trade, she turned to the life of a mercenary. Varyana has a massacre meter which grows in strength the longer blood feeds her blades, and it scales off her kill streak.
Aldkin – Cursed Child
Half-child, half-demon creature, Aldkin was born part-demonic due to the First Khazra in the Citadel performing dark rituals on his mother. He can undergo metamorphosis, shapeshifting into a powerful demon.
Subo – Drunken Archer
A disgraced archer from the mountains, Subo is a ranger using a bow and arrow to inflict damage by marking targets and earning benefits through kills, like reduced ability cooldowns.
How to hire mercenaries in Diablo 4
Mercenaries can join your party if you’re playing solo, making them your hired hand and main companion. You can also add them as reinforcements if you’re struggling in a particularly tough fight, where you can trigger them to arrive and perform an attack to help out in the moment. It’s worth noting they must be two different mercenaries, so both these options are available once you’ve unlocked a second mercenary.
How to earn rapport in Diablo 4
Now you’ve unlocked your new companion, you’ll need to earn their trust by building rapport. By earning rapport, you can upgrade your mercenary by earning skill points to unlock abilities, caches, and increase your ability to barter.
You can earn rapport in battle by using your mercenary as a reinforcement or hired hand, with mercenary-related events appearing throughout Sanctuary to earn additional bonus rapport. Each mercenary has ten levels of rapport to build, and once you repeat the last level, you’ll earn Pale Marks. These marks are coins that grant the ability to purchase coveted items in the Den. You can also use Pale Marks to trade items in the Den, with a higher ranked mercenary providing more potential items.
Now you’re caught up on Diablo 4 mercenaries and how rapport works in Diablo 4, here’s what to expect from Vessel of Hatred and the best Diablo 4 classes to complement your new companions.